Wimbledon, the third of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, concluded on Sunday with world number one Italian Jannik Sinner defeating his new runner-up in the ATP rankings, German Alexander Zverev, in an edition suggesting that the second half of the season will be more competitive compared to 2025.

The Italian star claimed his first major title of 2026, the fifth of his career, and his second consecutive Wimbledon crown.

But Zverev showed genuine resistance early in the match, and the 29-year-old, who won his first Grand Slam last month at Roland Garros, came close to taking a two-set lead on Centre Court at the All England Club.

Sinner's Australian coach Darren Cahill said on Sunday: 'Now that he has gained the confidence from winning a major, he believes in his abilities more.'

He added: 'He knows he can win seven matches at a major... and if he continues to produce this level and this more aggressive style than before, Zverev will cause big problems for his rivals.'

In his early days, the German lived in the shadow of the dominance of Swiss Roger Federer, Spaniard Rafael Nadal, and Serbian Novak Djokovic. Today, he hopes to keep pace with Sinner and Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz to reshape a new 'Big Three' at the top of world tennis, according to what he said on Sunday in London.

Zverev said: 'I have improved this year, and I feel I have put both these players under pressure: Alcaraz in Australia (where the Spaniard needed five sets to reach the final) and Jannik here. I haven't beaten them this season, but I think I pushed them to their limits.'

Zverev has lost four times in five Grand Slam finals since the 2020 US Open.

With his advancing age and reaching 39, Djokovic's chances of a record 25th major title are diminishing, taking him somewhat out of the competition with Sinner and Alcaraz, who missed the last two majors due to a wrist injury, opening the door for Zverev.

He admitted that the 'harsh lesson' he received from Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinals (4-6, 4-6, 4-6) clearly reminded him of the new limitations imposed by age, saying: 'I lost to a better player. I was one or two levels below him.'

Former world number three Croatian Ivan Ljubicic considered that 'Djokovic is still a great player, but it seems to me that his body' can no longer withstand playing 'seven matches at the highest level' as required by Grand Slams, according to what the elite official of the French Tennis Federation told AFP.

Wimbledon may be the tournament where the Serb abdicated his position as the third man in the competition in favor of Zverev, although the German refused to rush to declare the end of the Belgrade native's career, who is still capable of competing.

After describing Sinner as 'the best player in the world', Zverev said: 'I think there are two players, maybe three, who can match him. Probably three, because we have to admit that regarding Novak.'

With the next big date on the calendar approaching, the US Open (August 30 - September 13), the key question remains: will Alcaraz be ready to return to the courts?

The Spaniard, who began the year as world number one and won the Australian Open, the only major missing from his record, has returned to hitting the ball lightly with his right hand according to a video posted on social media.

But the seven-time major winner is not on the entry list for the Montreal Masters 1000 (August 2-13).

In the most optimistic scenario, he could return to competition shortly before the start of the US Open, by playing in the Cincinnati Masters 1000 (August 13-23).

Sinner said on Sunday: 'I hope Carlos comes back, because tennis needs him.'